Mohammad Hamid Ansari

2022-01-09T04:29:00Z

2405:204:5001:FE46:A447:1517:D897:B948:

{{Short description|14th Vice President of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mohammad Hamid Ansari
| honorific_suffix = [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]]
| office = 12th [[Vice President of India]]
| image = Official portrait of Shri Mohammed Hamid Ansari, The Vice President of India, 2014.jpg
| caption = Offcial Portrait, 2014
| predecessor = [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]
| primeminister = [[Manmohan Singh]] [[Narendra Modi]]
| president = [[Pratibha Patil]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| successor = [[M. Venkaiah Naidu]]
| office1 = [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]]
| term_start1 = January 1993
| term_end1 = January 1995
| president1 = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| predecessor1 = C.R. Gharekhan
| successor1 = [[Prakash Shah]]
| office3 = [[Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates]]
| term_start3 = 6 June 1976
| term_end3 = 24 January 1980
| president3 = [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]] [[B. D. Jatti]] [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]]
| predecessor3 = S. E. H. Rizvi
| successor3 = [[Lalit Mansingh]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1937|4|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| spouse = Salma Ansari
| children = 1 daughter 2 sons
| alma_mater = [[University of Calcutta]] [[Aligarh Muslim University]]
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| term_start = 11 August 2007
| term_end = 10 August 2017
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
}}
'''Mohammad Hamid Ansari''' ({{audio|Hamid Ansari Pronunciation.ogg|pronunciation}}; born 1 April 1937) is an Indian politician and retired [[Indian Foreign Service|Foreign service officer]] who was the 12th [[chairman of Rajya Sabha]] and 12th [[vice president of India]] from 2007 to 2017.

Ansari joined the [[Indian Foreign Service|IFS]] in 1961. In a diplomatic career spanning 38 years, he served as the Indian ambassador to Australia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. He also served as the [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]] between 1993 and 1995. He was appointed the [[List of Vice-Chancellors of Aligarh Muslim University|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[Aligarh Muslim University]] from 2000 to 2002.<ref name="Ansari miss VC">{{cite web|title=Ansari almost missed V-C post in AMU|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ansari-almost-missed-V-C-post-in-AMU/Article1-852273.aspx|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512215803/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ansari-almost-missed-V-C-post-in-AMU/Article1-852273.aspx|archive-date=12 May 2012}}</ref> Later, he was Chairman of the [[National Commission for Minorities]]<ref name="Ansari miss VC"/> from 2006 to 2007.

He was [[2007 Indian vice-presidential election|elected]] as the Vice-President of India on 10 August 2007 and took office on 11 August 2007. He was [[2012 Indian vice-presidential election|reelected]] on 7 August 2012 and was sworn-in by [[Pranab Mukherjee]], the [[President of India]]. The oath taking ceremony was conducted at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 11 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/hamid-ansari-sworn-in-as-vice-president-for-second-term/42903/ |title=Hamid Ansari sworn-in as Vice President for second term. |work=Business Standard|date=11 August 2012 |access-date=20 August 2012}}</ref> His second term ended in August 2017 since he was not offered another term, he decided not to run for a third term in the [[2017 Indian vice-presidential election|2017 vice-presidential election]].

==Personal life ==
[[File:The Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari calling on the President of Nepal, Ms. Bidya Devi Bhandari, in New Delhi on April 18, 2017.jpg|thumb|right|The Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari calling on the President of Nepal, [[Bidya Devi Bhandari]], in New Delhi, 18 April 2017.]]
Ansari was born on 1 April 1937 at [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Kolkata]], in the state of [[West Bengal]], [[India]]) to Mohammad Abdul Aziz Ansari and Aasiya Begum. Though his ancestral home is in the city of [[Ghazipur]] of the [[Uttar Pradesh]] state, he spent his formative years in Kolkata. He is the grand-nephew of former [[Indian National Congress]] president and freedom fighter [[Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari]].<ref name="MHA">{{cite web|title=Who is Mohammed Hamid Ansari?|url=https://www.ndtv.com/people/who-is-mohammed-hamid-ansari-495977|publisher=NDTV|access-date=4 January 2018|date=7 August 2012}}</ref> He is also the second cousin to 3 Uttar Pradesh politicians, namely [[Afzal Ansari]], [[Sibakatullah Ansari]] and the mafia-turned politican [[Mukhtar Ansari]].<ref>{{cite web|title=3 brothers, 5 seats, jail: no getting away from the Ansaris of Poorvanchal|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/3-brothers-5-seats-jail-no-getting-away-from-the-ansaris-of-poorvanchal/|work=The Indian Express|access-date=4 January 2018|date=12 May 2014}}</ref>

Ansari did his schooling from [[St. Edward's School, Shimla]].
After graduating from [[St. Xavier's College, Calcutta]], affiliated to the [[University of Calcutta]], he pursued his [[Master of Arts]] and [[Doctor of Philosophy]] degree from the [[Aligarh Muslim University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamid Ansari sworn in as vice-president|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hamid-ansari-sworn-in-as-vice-president-1726692|publisher=DNA India|access-date=4 January 2018|date=11 August 2012}}</ref> He is married to Salma Ansari, fathering two sons and one daughter.<ref name="VP">{{cite web|title=Sh. M. Hamid Ansari|url=http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/former-vice-president/Sh-M-Hamid-Ansari|publisher=Vice President of India|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

==Early career==

=== Diplomatic career ===
[[File:The Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Madhav Kumar Nepal calls on the Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari, in New Delhi on August 19, 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Vice President, Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari with the former Prime Minister of Nepal, [[Madhav Kumar Nepal]]]]
Joining the [[Indian Foreign Service]] in 1961, Ansari subsequently served Indian missions in [[Baghdad]], [[Rabat]], [[Brussels]] and [[Jeddah]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamid Ansari: Seasoned diplomat and scholar, respected leader|url=http://twocircles.net/2012jul14/hamid_ansari_seasoned_diplomat_and_scholar_respected_leader.html|publisher=Two Circles|access-date=4 January 2018|date=14 July 2012}}</ref> From 1976 to 1980, he served as the [[Indian Ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates|Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates]]. Mohan Jashanmal, the Chairman of Indian Business and Professionals Group said that "Ansari was instrumental to get land for the Indian School from His Highness [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan|Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan]]".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ansari cherishes UAE experience|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/india/ansari-cherishes-uae-experience-1.190800|publisher=Gulf News|access-date=4 January 2018|date=23 July 2007}}</ref> He has also served as the Indian ambassador to Australia (1985–1989), Afghanistan (1989–1990), Iran (1990–1992), Saudi Arabia (1995–1999).<ref>{{cite web|title=India's vice president to visit Uganda|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1446444/india-vice-president-visit-uganda|publisher=New Vision|access-date=4 January 2018|date=16 February 2017}}</ref>

He also served as the [[Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations]] from 1993 to 1995.<ref name="VP" /> His deputy [[T. P. Sreenivasan]] wrote that while Ansari's stint as the Permanent Representative, he refuted Pakistan's allegations of [[human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir]] by "the horns and subdued it whenever necessary". He also wrote that appointing Ansari for this post at a time when "Pakistan went all out to bring Kashmir to the centre of international attention after the end of the [[Cold War]]" showed India's secular credentials.<ref>{{cite web|author1=T. P. Sreenivasan|author-link=T. P. Sreenivasan|title=Hamid Ansari: an intellectual liberated|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/an-intellectual-liberated/article19502761.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=4 January 2018|date=16 August 2017}}</ref>

=== Academic stints ===
After serving as a [[visiting scholar|visiting professor]] of the West Asian and African Studies Department of [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] from 1999 to 2000,<ref name="VP"/> Ansari was appointed as the [[vice-chancellor]] of the [[Aligarh Muslim University]] on 23 May 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former diplomat named new AMU Vice-Chancellor|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2000/05/24/stories/02240006.htm|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 May 2000}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> After leaving the post in 2002, he served as a visiting professor of the Academy for Third World Studies Department of the [[Jamia Milia Islamia]] from 2003 to 2005.<ref name="VP"/>

=== Chairman of NCM ===
Ansari became the chairman of India's [[National Commission for Minorities]] (NCM) on 6 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ncm.nic.in/current_commision.html|title=NCM website – current commission|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628141937/http://ncm.nic.in/current_commision.html|archive-date=28 June 2007}}</ref> In June 2007, Ansari, in his capacity as NCM chairman, upheld the decision of St. Stephen's Delhi to earmark a small percentage of seats for Dalit Christians.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newspostindia.com/report-5541|publisher=newspostindia.com|title=St Stephens reservation row}}</ref> He resigned as NCM chairman soon after his nomination for the post of India's vice-president.

==Vice Presidency (2007–2017)==

=== First term ===
[[File:GNLU Vice President of India.jpg|thumb|right|Vice President Ansari with the [[Prime Minister of India|PM]], the [[Governor of Gujarat]] and some [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme court]] judges at the [[Gujarat National Law University]]]]
[[File:Mohd. Hamid Ansari being received by the Governor of Orissa, Shri M.C. Bhandare and the Chief Minister of Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik, on his arrival at Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar in Orissa on March 01, 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Vice President Ansari with former Odisha governor [[Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare|M.C. Bhandare]] and Odisha chief minister [[Naveen Patnaik]]]]
[[File:The Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari inspecting the guard of honor, on his arrival at the Bhubaneswar Airport in Orissa on October 20, 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Vice President Ansari inspecting the guard of honor at [[Biju Patnaik International Airport]]]]

On 20 July 2007, Ansari was named by the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]]-[[Indian left|Left]], the ruling coalition in India, as its candidate for the post of [[Vice-President of India|Vice-President]] for the upcoming election. When asked, Ansari said he felt "humbled" over the UPA-Left decision naming him as their candidate. "I am humbled by the confidence reposed in me". Ansari refused to say more when asked about his prospects in the [[2007 Indian vice-presidential election|August 2007 Vice-Presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/ansari-named-upaleft--candidate-for-vicepresident-poll/45324-3.html|publisher=ibnlive.com|title=Ansari named UPA-Left candidate for Vice President Poll}}</ref> Ansari secured 455 votes, and won the election by a margin of 233 votes against his nearest rival [[Najma Heptullah]].

=== Second Term ===
In [[2012 Indian vice-presidential election|2012 Vice presidential election]], the Congress-led UPA re-appointed Ansari as their candidate for the post of VP. The NDA nominated [[Jaswant Singh]], former [[Finance Minister of India|Finance]], [[Minister for External Affairs|External Affairs]] and [[Minister of Defence (India)|Defence]] minister as well as former [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of Opposition]].<ref name="VP Poll: Jaswant Singh Vs Hamid Ansari">{{cite news|title=VP Poll: Jaswant Singh Vs Hamid Ansari|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=768969|access-date=7 August 2012|newspaper=Outlook India|date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717022425/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=768969|archive-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> The NDA cited Ansari's conduct in the [[Rajya Sabha]] during [[The Lokpal Bill, 2011]] debate when he had abruptly adjourned the House [[Adjournment sine die|sine die]].<ref name="bloomberg">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-29/uproar-over-india-graft-laws-sinks-singh-vote.html|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=3 June 2012|title=Singh Caps 'Annus Horribilis' With Anti-Graft Law Stymied by Upper House|author=Andrew MacAskill and Bibhudatta Pradhan|date=30 December 2011}}</ref> Hamid Ansari was re-elected for the second term on 7 August 2012, defeating the NDA's nominee Jaswant Singh by a margin of 252 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Hamid-Ansari-retained-seat-as-Vice-President/Article1-909519.aspx|title= Hamid Ansari retained seat as Vice President|date= 7 August 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130512072336/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Hamid-Ansari-retained-seat-as-Vice-President/Article1-909519.aspx|archive-date= 12 May 2013}}</ref> Ansari was the first person to be re-elected as Indian Vice President after [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] in [[1957 Indian vice-presidential election|1957]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Hamid-Ansari/|title=Mohammad Hamid Ansari Biography - Vice President of India|website=[[Britannica.com]]|access-date=21 September 2015}}</ref>

Upon the inauguration of [[Ram Nath Kovind]] as [[President of India]] in 2017, Ansari became the first Indian Vice-President to serve during the terms of three presidents. He is the longest serving chairman of Rajya Sabha.

==Views==
Ansari is a West Asia scholar and has written on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Palestinian issue]] and taken positions inconvenient to the Indian official line on [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]]. He questioned India's vote in the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] on Iran's nuclear programme where India voted against Iran. He said that though the Indian Government claimed to have acted on "its own judgement," this was not borne out by facts.<ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072161771600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911195321/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072161771600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-11 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2007-07-21 |title=Hamid Ansari: versatile scholar, statesman}}</ref>

He was the chairman of a working group on "Confidence building measures across segments of society in the State," established by the Second Round Table Conference of the Prime Minister on [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in 2006. The report of the working group was adopted by the Third Round Table in April 2007. Among other things, the report advocates recognizing the right of [[Kashmiri Pandits]] to return to "places of their original residence". This right, it argued, should be recognized without any ambiguity and made a part of state policy.<ref name="hindu.com" />

== See also ==
* [[List of Vice-Presidents of India]]
* [[Syed Akbaruddin]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{commons category}}
*[http://india.gov.in/govt/whoswho.php?id=3 Profile at Indian Government website]
* ''Iran Today: Twenty – five Years after the Islamic Revolution'' (Rupa, New Delhi,2005) ({{ISBN|81-291-0774-0}})
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070911195321/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/21/stories/2007072161771600.htm Hamid Ansari: versatile scholar, statesman]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130913022525/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Thiruvananthapuram/Vice-president-Hamid-Ansari-forced-to-suffer-a-fool/Article1-1121206.aspx Goof up leaves Ansari fuming]

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{{s-aft|after=[[Naseem Ahmad]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Vice-President of India|Vice President of India]]|years=2007–2017}}
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{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Civil Service}}
{{IndianVicePresidents}}
{{Indian civil servants}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ansari, Mohammad Hamid}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian educational theorists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Iran]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:High Commissioners of India to Australia]]
[[Category:Indian civil servants]]
[[Category:Indian diplomats]]
[[Category:Indian Foreign Service officers]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Permanent Representatives of India to the United Nations]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in civil service]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:St. Xavier's College, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Vice-Chancellors of the Aligarh Muslim University]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of India]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:People from Ghazipur]]

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Mohammad Hamid Ansari